Jacob Beasley (abt. 1726 - abt. 1790)

Born about 1726 in North Carolina [uncertain]

Descendants

Died about 1790 at about age 64 in Fairfield, South Carolina

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Biography

Birth

There is no direct evidence for the date of birth. We do know that son George was found in the 1830 census age 90+ meaning that George was born before 1740. It is possible but not certain that George was the oldest child but apparently Jacob and Peter predeceased George.

I would say that a reasonable estimate for Jacob's birth would be no later than 1726. Jacob was not born in Fairfield Co SC as that did not exist. If he was born in SC, it would have been Craven County at the time, but the area would have been unlikely to have been settled. Probably more likely he was born outside of SC such as NC or, as had been suggested by some, he was from an immigrant family. The likely immigrant to SC was Thomas Beasley who was the earliest Beasley found in the area (as early as 1737 in Old Berkeley County, perhaps Charleston area). At this point, we have no indication of Thomas' offspring if any.

Life

The earliest record of Jacob is a land plat on 10 Feb 1763[1]:

222 South Carolina Pursuant to a Receipt from the Honb'l Egerton Leigh Esq Surveyor General dated the 4th of January 1763 Admeasured unto Jacob Beesley a tract of Land Containing 200 acres the South side of Waxaw River on Fishing Creek in Craven County bounded on all sides by vacant Land and hath such form and marks as the above plat represents Certified by me this 10th day of February 1763. John Belton D. S. Available at the SC Dept of Archives. [2]

On 12 Jul 1770 a Memorial was posted for 150 acres on Fishing Creek. [3]These lands were very close to the border between SC and NC.

Death

As indicated below, Jacob's will was proven in 1791, so I put the estimated death as 1790 though it could have been earlier than that.

Notes

Jacob Beasley's will:[4]

In the name of God amen. I Jacob Beasley of Craven County being thro the abundent mercy and goodness of God, tho weak of body yet of sound memory do constitute this my lasy will and testiment. I therefore do commit my soul to the hands of almighty God its creator beseeching for mercy. I therefore do deliver my body to be decently buried without pomp or state, at the discretion of my wife. I therefore do own this to be my last will and testiment. As to my worldly estate I do require that all my lawful debts to be paid. I give to my dear and loving wife the plantation that now I live onwhile she lives or keeps a widow, and at the day of her death or marriage, the platation that I now live on to be equally divided between George and Jacob and for the young children to be raised upon, the plantation the new work houses, the plow and all the platation tools for to work the plantation up. Five cows and two and the sheep and hogs and steers. The loom and tackling for the use of my wife and children, the household furniture for to be left on the plantation till the day of my wife's death or marriage. That the cows and horses and all the above mentioned to be divided amongst the children. I leave my son Peter the plantation of 150 acres down the creek with the one gray horse a cow and bull. To my daughter Catherine Yearling a heifer, to my daughter Mary Yearling a heifer. To my daughter Mod Coarniah (?) a heifer called Queeny. To my daughter Elizabeth (unreadable) one heifer calf. To my son Adam, I leave a heifer calf if the debt can be paid off the plantation, then the mares and colts is not to be sold and if the debt is not paid, then the mares and colts to be sold to help pay my debts. To my son Jacob I leave a heifer called Tidey. To my son George I leave a heifer called Daisey. I leave George and Jacob a smooth bore gun apiece. To my son Jacob I leave my cooper tools, the chisel, hand saw, guages, and ???adz and two broad axes to be equally divided among the boys, my wearing clothes I leave between George and Jacob. There is one lot of plow irons sold at nine pound fifteen for to come for to help for to pay my debts. Margaret Beasley my wife and William W. Kinney I do constitute executers of my will and testiment. In witness hereof I set my hand and seal this ninteenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy three.

(Images available at SC Dept of Archives [5]

County of Fairfield. May 9th, 1791. Margaret Beasley wife & executrix

of the within named Jacob Beasley being duly sworn made oath that that the within now produced read of ??? is a true copy of her husband's will having heard the original read before it was lost that this copy was taken by Benjamin Hutchison? who is since dead. She also gave up and disclaimed birthright? of administration in open court.

2. The following document was filed with Jacob's will:

To George Beasley

Whereas Jacob Beasley late of the said county died within the same having first made his will, which was lost during the war, a copy of which has been found proved and is hereunto annexed, and whereas Peter Beasley son and heir of the said Jacob, is also since dead without issue, whereby the power of granting letters of administration, with a copy of his will annexed, of all and singular the goods chattel and credits of the said Jacob Beasley, as also of the said Peter Beasley within this state and elsewhere and who accepting the accounts and reckonings of the said administration and ??? of the same to US colony, Margaret Beasley surviving exeutrix in the same will named having first given up all her rights to administer on her said husbands effects. Now in order that the said goods and chattel rights and credits of the said Jacob and Peter may well and truely be administered, we do hereby grant unto you the said George Beasley upon special trust and confidence, full power and authority by virtue of these parents to administer on all and singular the goods chattel rights and credits of the said deceased respectfully within this county and the state of authority which to them in their lifetime did belong to ask sum for salary and received the same and to pay ??? of the said Jacob agreeable to the ??? where the same that has been already done by the said Margaret and the oath of the said Peter and ?? forth did their respective goods and chattel will having been first duly sworn on the holy evangelists of almighty God to make a true & perfect inventory thereof and to ??? the same into the office of the clerk of our said court in us ??? record before the second Monday in September next. And we do ordain constitute and designate the said George Beasley administrator of all and singular the goods and chattel rights In testimony this 7th day of May 1791.

3. Granted land in old Craven Co. SC on June 15, 1770. This area of SC was disputed by both NC and SC and the grant is recorded in the State Archives of both states.

4. Jacob wrote his will on 19 Apr. 1773, Craven Co. SC but it was not proved until 9 May 1791. The claim was made (and accepted by the court) that the will had been lost during the Revolutionary War.

5. G Spencer Beasley's father's family insisted that the first of the line to come to America was named George and that they came from England.

6. Jacob Beasley memorial for 150 acres on Fishing Creek, Craven Co. SC 7/12/1770. Listed as Beigler, Jacob also.

7. I am tracing the families of Jacob Beasley/Margaret Pickens of SC

(Kershaw/Fairfield/Richland counties). Today, another researcher told me he had uncovered this interesting fact. Has anyone else found this German

connection? (Jacob's dates are c. 1728-1773).

"In Fairfield County, S. C., sometime shortly after the Revolution, there was a deed involving Jacob Beasley in which he text stated 'formerly known as Jacob Bielger.' Obviously this German name of Bielger became anglicized to Beasley." (So, when researching this family, the documents might be under the name Biegler before the Revolution and Beasley after.)

I'd love some input on this new puzzle piece.

Glenna